Democrat Gregg courts local 'Lugar Republicans'

Candidate says moderates concerned 'extremist' tea party has taken over GOP

Oct. 28, 2012

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There is no hesitation when Democrat John Gregg explains why his campaign values voters in historically Republican Tippecanoe County.

“Tippecanoe County is one of three that supported Dick Lugar in the May primary,” Gregg said. “Lugar Republicans are moderates, they believe in collaboration, cooperation, and they’re concerned that their party has been taken over by extremist tea party members.”

“I’m running against a founding member of the tea party caucus in Congress and a majority of Hoosiers are not tea party supporters,” Gregg added.

The Democratic candidate for governor and his lieutenant governor running mate, Vi Simpson, spent the weekend campaigning in northern Indiana.

Instead of heading straight home on Sunday night, they made a point of meeting with more than 100 supporters and some potential supporters at Nine Irish Brothers in West Lafayette.

The strategy paid-off with at least one independent voter. Michael Phelps, of Brookston, wanted to meet Gregg and evaluate the character of the candidate.

“I asked several pointed questions about issues that matter to me so I could see his reaction,” Phelps explained. “I see him as more genuine and I’m much more comfortable voting for him, now.”

West Lafayette resident Lynn Nelson seized the opportunity to support his candidate.

“This is a very important election and it’s a clear choice of whether we believe in a society that stands for freedom and believes in a community of shared responsibilities or stands for selfishness, fear, and predatory competition.”

On Friday, the Gregg campaign released poll results showing the Democrat with 40 percent of the vote compared to Republican Mike Pence’s 46 percent.

The poll was conducted by Beneson Strategy Group between Oct. 18 and 21 with 701 respondents and has a margin of error of 3.7 percent.

In August, Gregg was polling 18 points behind Pence.

Gregg attributes the gain to his consistent message of asking voters to look beyond party labels, to look at his track record as a legislator, as an employee of Peabody Coal and AMAX, and as interim president of Vincennes University.

“Our goal is to be within the margin of error by the weekend and by Tuesday to overtake him, and we can do it,” Gregg said.